Courtesy of AXS TVCheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen will be featured on a new episode the AXS TV reality series Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar that premieres this Sunday, March 26, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. On the show, host Sammy Hagar travels to Chicago to chat with the power-pop legend and fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, about a variety of musical topics, including Nielsen’s experiences recording with the late, great John Lennon.
In a preview clip from the show exclusively provided to ABC Radio, Nielsen shares some memories about the time he and Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos were brought in to work on a session intended for Lennon’s 1980 Double Fantasy album.
Rick recalls that he was laying down a guitar overdub for the song “I’m Losing You,” and Lennon wound up paying him quite a compliment.
“While I was in there [recording my part], he said to Bun E. and [producer] Jack [Douglas], ‘God, I wish I would’ve had him on ‘Cold Turkey,'” Nielsen shares. “He says, ‘[Eric] Clapton choked up!’ Not too shabby.”
Rick also tells Sammy that he remembers bringing Cuban cigars to the studio that day, August 12, 1980, to give to Lennon in celebration of the fact that his son Daxx — who now is Cheap Trick’s drummer — had just been born.
Nielsen and Carlos recorded parts for “I’m Losing You” and the Yoko Ono tune “Moving On,” although their performances didn’t make it to the final mix of those tracks.
In addition to the Nielsen interview, Sunday’s Rock & Roll Road Trip episode will focus on Hagar and The Circle, the star-studded group that also includes ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham, playing a concert at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
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